Three from Red Flash in double-figures as Skyhawks late rally comes up short

Bramanti reached double-figures for the ninth-straight game, finishing with a game-high 17 points tonight (PHOTO BY Ryan Feeney)

EASTON, Mass. (January 6, 2023) – Saint Francis (Pa.) University held Stonehill College to 26-percent shooting in the second half and turned back a fourth quarter comeback to secure a 56-52 victory in Northeast Conference action on Paula Sullivan Court at Merkert Gymnasium tonight.

Sophomore Layla Laws came off the bench to lead a balanced Saint Francis effort with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including 2-for-3 from three-point range, with six rebounds and two steals. Her second half triple gave the Red Flash a nine-point cushion (45-36) with 1:20 to play in the third quarter.

Junior Filippa Goula also netted 13 points, converting 5-of-6 free-throws to go with two rebounds, two assists and two steals, while senior Sam Miller scored ten of her 12 points in the first half, finishing 6-for-13 from the floor, with three rebounds. Junior Aaliyah Moore grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for the Red Flash, including five on the offensive glass, in a game that featured three double-figure rebounders in all.

Fifth-year Emily Bramanti was the lone double-figure scorer for Stonehill with a game-high 17 points, including 11 in the second half, as she converted 7-of-8 free-throws to go with four rebounds, an assist and blocked shot. Senior Mia Kelly added eight points and a career-high 12 rebounds, while fifth-year Sophie Glidden chipped in six points and ten boards with two assists.

Whitmore posted season-highs of eight points, four rebounds and two blocked shots in a season-high 21 minutes of play (PHOTO BY Ryan Feeney)

Stonehill got off to a quick start, making four of its first five shots from the floor, while also converting all six free-throw attempts in the opening five minutes to build a seven-point lead (14-7) after a layup from junior Jada Thornton with 5:25 to play in the first quarter. Unfortunately, the Skyhawks would make just one more basket the remainder of the quarter as Saint Francis rallied to grab a one-point lead (17-16) into the second, aided by eight points in the quarter by Miller.

Stonehill reclaimed the lead (24-23) on a Glidden jumper midway through the second quarter, but Saint Francis scored the next six points, including a Laws three-pointer, to open a five-point lead (29-24) with 3:32 left in the first half. The Red Flash took a four-point lead into halftime and then held the Skyhawks scoreless for the first five minutes of the third quarter, although was only able to extend their advantage to seven (36-29) after a Moore free-throw.

Goula gave Saint Francis a nine-point lead (40-31) with 3:31 left in the third and took an eight-point advantage into the fourth (46-38). Ward stretched that cushion to ten (48-38) on the opening possession of the fourth, but Stonehill started to chip away, drawing within four (48-44) after a layup from freshman Melissa Whitmore, who finished with a season-high eight points off the bench for the Skyhawks, with 4:25 still to play.

Stonehill extended its run to 11-2 to pull within a point (49-48) after two Bramanti free-throws with 2:32 remaining, but Moore had the answer at the other end. Bramanti followed with a drive to close the gap to a point again, but Saint Francis was able to open a four-point cushion (54-50) after a Laws free-throw with 36-seconds remaining. Bramanti scored a jumper to trim the lead to two (54-52) with 26-seconds to play, but the Skyhawks wouldn't score again, and Goula sealed it at the free-throw line. 

Noteworthy

• After having a season-high four double-figure scorers in each of the last two games, Bramanti was Stonehill's lone player in double-figures tonight – doing so for the ninth-straight game.
• Saint Francis turned the ball over just five times in the game, including one in the first half. The Red Flash finished with a 10-2 margin in points off turnovers, taking advantage of Stonehill's ten turns.
• Stonehill had two with double-figure rebounds for the third time this season and first since the Skyhawks win over Hartford.
• In addition to her season-high eight points, Whitmore also chipped in a season-best four rebounds and two blocked shots in her season-high 21-minutes as she saw her first action since November 27 against Oakland.
• Tonight marked the first meeting all-time between these two programs.

Up Next
Stonehill (5-10, 1-1 NEC) is right back in action here at Merkert Gym on Sunday, when it hosts Sacred Heart University for an NEC matchup at 2 p.m. Saint Francis (2-12, 1-1 NEC) visits Central Connecticut State University on Sunday at 1 p.m.

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